Chapter four

OSCAR

The sound of the automatic door opening, followed by resonated footsteps which made my gaze linger on my notebook and, a familiar masculine voice urged me to look forward.

"Captain," Osita called.

I nodded in response. However, from his voice he'd found something.

"Yes, what do you have?" I dropped my body onto a chair as the sounds of his strides ceased.

"A serologic analysis of a sample of blood from the tracksuit of Temitope Ida we found in her car. According to the result, the blood is hers and not a trace of Kiki's. No weapon was found also. No keys also," Osita offered the result paper to me and I nodded upon receiving it but a hint of doubt was still on Osita's face.

"Tell everyone to gather for a meeting."

"Yes sir."

I averted my gaze for a second or two over to my wristwatch, and when I looked back at Osita, he hesitantly gave me a quick nod and walked away.

Two minutes later and everyone had gathered, each with information they'd garnered.

"Mmenim tell us what you have." I said watching him roll up his sleeves.

A small smile appeared on Mmenim's mouth as he picked up his laptop and connected to a projector with pictures from the scene displaying. There were merely clues.

"From Miss Temitope's Facebook account, I deduced that her first last seen was exactly 1:05pm. From MRE back to Kiki's house is about fourteen minutes. It's possible that the killer was waiting for her at home…"

I absentmindedly fiddled my pen with my fingers. My mind trailer off as I barely listened to what Osita said and didn't know when Vincent had gotten up to speak. I felt as though we missed out something and I couldn't justify it.

"Sir? Sir? Oscar!"

My mind scouring came to an end when my eyes met with James', who immediately straightened after my brain bleach.

"You always take a case up your sleeve." James said, craning his neck to have a better look at me. He usually gave me comfort at DMS, his smile was somewhat reassuring that most cases were solvable. "We'll get to the bottom of this no matter what, okay?"

I put up a faint-hearted smile and nodded. I pulled my legs out from under the long table and stood up to face them.

"Team five," I hyped.

"Yes, Sir!" they responded joyed.

"Honestly, it's been getting hard for all of us. From seeing dead bodies to analyzing and solving a case, we're all trying to keep our heads floating above the water. Some of us want to go home and rest," I addressed them with a shrug.

The CCTV footage from the estate yielded nothing, and one by one, my teammates began to pick up their things and file out of the room. James was the first to go, followed by the others. They all had the same thought – none of them wanted to venture out in tomorrow morning to tail Temitope, let alone approach her. She was too dangerous, a ticking bomb, and they knew I was the only nice leader to let them do what they desired – or skilled enough – to handle her.

I chuckled to myself as I continued to stare at the screen. The challenge she posed was enticing, a refreshing change from the usual cautious targets we dealt with. My mind drifted back to the black-haired beauty I'd encountered earlier today. There was more to her than met the eye, and I was determined to unravel her secrets.

I rose from my chair and stretched, cracking my stiff joints. I need a breathe before diving back into this rabbit hole. I slipped on my coat and headed for the balcony, unwrapped a sweet, stared out at the cityscape below. Lights twinkled like stars in the night, and I wondered where she was and what she was doing.

"You're thinking about her, aren't you?" a voice said from the doorway. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. He had come back after been the first to run.

"You're one to talk," I retorted, not bothering to hide the smirk in my voice. James stepped out onto the balcony, a bottle of whiskey in hand.

"I've got a bad feeling about this one, man," he said pouring us both a drink. "Temitope Ida is different. She's smart, unpredictable."

"That's what makes it fun, doesn't it?" I countered, swirling the amber liquid in my glass. "Besides, we've dealt with worse. We'll figure her out, just like we always do. Especially, her motive for killing Kiki."

James took a swig of his drink and stared into the distance. "I hope you're right, for both our sakes."

I clinked my glass against his, swallowed the whiskey in one gulp, and grinned. "Trust me, old friend. This time, the chase is just getting started."

Though the CCTV footage invaded my mind, I was still stuck with the clean murder. 7:30am I had arrived at Temi's house and had jogged several times round wearing black shorts and white t-shirt before sitting down under a shed not so far from her house.

Finally! She stepped out with a face cap on and a hoodie and began to move. Curiosity, which was part of my work, pushed me to follow her.

Where could she be going? Was she meeting anyone?

I passed a church and a secondary school, and instinctively fled into another street pressing my back against the wall when she turned back.

Gray clouds covered the bright sun and sky, thunder was preceded by lightening bolts and without caution, the rain poured heavily. Raindrops fell on me and in a rush to move quickly, I had a strange feeling.

Someone is following her. Someone else is behind her.

The frame of the person wasn't certain whether a female or male but the person kept on walking behind her. It got darker and alarming as most people would've felt that strange haughtiness.

I urged my legs to increase my speed sighing in relief. An ake spread across my temple and intensified to an uncomfortable pain behind my eyes. My throat was dry from running.

Hesitantly, I continued to follow weaving through the less busy street. Another flash of lightning followed by a rumble nearly left me breathless.

Temi hurriedly turned into the next street, and so did the person as I ran following them but when I checked the street, only the person was walking ahead, Temi wasn't there.

What the—

I felt the presence of someone behind me. I turned around to see Temi, rain pouring on her. She looked calm, as if she knew I was following her. It was the second time I was this close to her, her gaze was very intimidating.

"Are you okay?" That was awkward, I asked clumsily.

She didn't say anything, but just stood there silently cursing me, maybe.

"No offense it's not what you think…" my voice trailed off. She still wasn't ready to interact with me. I swallowed hard.

"You followed me, right?"

"No, no."

"Lying as an excuse? Jogging in front of my house? Let me repeat myself. Were you following me?"

I raised my eyes and looked directly at her.

"Interesting," I snorted. And for the first time I laughed feeling stupid. "Um… yes, I was. One little thing I think you're forgetting is that it's my job to find out the killer even if it means watching you from afar. You think I wanted this?"

"Yes you did, I wasn't the one that offered the job to you. You're being fanatical and ardent about succeeding, you ignored the negativities engulfing me focusing on the rewards. You had a mouth to reject my case."

This rude little thing.

My phone began to ring, I glanced at the call display before swiping answer. I checked my wrist unminding her mumblings. I didn't expect my phone to ring any moment.

"James, any problem?"

"Another dead body has been found. Are you with Temi?" that question assaulted my ears.

"Unfortunately yes. I'm here with her." The enthusiasm in my voice was gone.

"Another victim related to her. She texted the victim few minutes before he died." Blaring of sirens and indistinct chattering filled the background of James'.

~~~~

I didn't want to blame Temi even when she was rude. I grimaced as I imagined her shocked face if she found out that her instructor was dead and looked over shoulder as I double checked the dangling body from the fan. He was a middle-aged man. And according to James he was Mr. Ekong Sunday, Temi's instructor.

The crime scene examiner took over with their responsibilities: locating and gathering photographic, video, forensic and fingerprint evidence, and documenting all actions to preserve as evidence.

"Estimated time of death, 5:00am to 7:00am this morning. Cause of death: strangulation. He was strangled to death by someone and then hung to cover it like suicide. From the picture, we can see finger marks on his neck. We'll take it back to compare with her DNA to see if it matches." Stated the examiner.

"It seems we have a murderer on the loose then. Bring Temitope Ida in for questioning then." Once again the killer did a clean job. All evidence pointed to Temi again or maybe she had some explanations.

Normally, killers didn't want to be found so they try all possible ways to conceal their fingerprints, sweat, hair, et cetera but intentionally leave clues as well. I slipped my phone back into my pocket and went downstairs, carefully examining the door knob and bingo. The keys weren't in place.

I followed the path to the garage crossing a small garden and stepped into a wide concrete that ran round the entire compound. I studied the house, the gate was opened and a couple of officers stood asking questions.

The closer I got to the officers interrogating the neighbours, the more impressed I was. Only a female appearance dominated the statement of an old man, but he couldn't identify the perpetrator.

I approached the older man and introduced myself.

"Did Mr. Ekong live in this house all alone? No wife or kids?" I asked. "I believe he couldn't have stayed here even without a live-in maid."

"He did live alone," the man said. "But early this morning he went in with someone, a female. Sorry I didn't get to see the face. It was still dark. That man just died like that."

I did my best at not picturing Temi as the young woman; green snake in the green grass. "And what time was that?"

"Around 4:00am. I was on my way to the farm. Sorry I can't answer anymore questions."

As I turned away from the farmer, my eyes were drawn back to the gruesome sight unfolding before me. a hush fell over the crowd as the stretcher emerged from the building, bearing the lifeless body of a man who met a tragic end. The stillness was punctuated by the click of camera shutters, capturing the macabre scene for posterity.

"Did you see how pale he was?" a woman whispered, her voice laced with morbid fascination.

I watched in silence as the paramedics carefully maneuvered the stretcher down the steps, their movements methodical and grim. The farmer stood off to the side, his expression unreadable, his hands gripping his clothes.

The onlookers, kept at bay by the yellow tape, leaned in closer, eager to capture every detail with their phones held aloft like modern-day torches illuminating the darkness of the tragedy.

As the stretcher passed by me, I caught a glimpse of the man's face, frozen in a final expression of pain and surprise. It sent shiver down my spine, a stark reminder of the fragility of life and cruel unpredictability of death.

"Who do you think it was?" someone murmured, breaking the heavy silence that hung in the air like a suffocating blanket.

I couldn't tear my gaze away from the scene unfolding before me.

TEMI

Laying on my bed staring at the ceiling, I snapped my head as loud siren blared around my house. Sudden wave of shuffling circled in front of the house I got up to go outside and see what had happened when I noticed through my window Oscar and his team of more than ten had surrounded my house. Then a knock on the gate.

It isn't even up to forty-eight hours.

I answered the gate, in my brown cargo trousers and long sleeves green shirt. I was slightly tired and half awake at the moment. I stared at Oscar then looked at the others with weapons aiming at me as if I was some kind of world's most wanted and dangerous criminal and then back to Oscar, closing the gate immediately.

Oscar stopped the door with one hand and one foot, "I advice you to comply with the search. Mind if I get your statement about your whereabouts from 4:00am till 7:00am?"

I hesitated, looked behind to check if the compound was in the best condition for the police, then I let them in. My gate was opened into a large surrounding: a small cover stood at one corner, my SUV and motorbike laid rest on the opposite side. The compound was large, yet with almost no people in it.

I stepped into the living room, and sat down. Oscar and the rest followed me into the house. Oscar walked across the room and leaned against the wall dividing the living room and the dinning and started questioning.

"All I want is nothing but the truth…for the murder cases of Kiki Tunde and Ekong Sunday." Oscar slowly dropped the bomb, took out his journal and jotted down while I held my tears back. With procedures, others began searching my house, reasons best known to them and the killer; for evidence.

I was nervous, scared and tired watching Oscar place his hand now and then on his gun and handcuffs.

"I was home. On my bed. Asleep." I lied. I was already through enough, the deaths and all fingers pointing at me. Why was Ekong the next target? Did he know anything about Kiki's case? I hardly cried but it was hard to ignore losing someone close to me. He was my help on this lonely road and it felt like the pain won't go.

Meeting Ekong every Wednesday morning by four o'clock was normal and I had visited him earlier today by four o'clock. It gave me the chills making my heart race for the lie I told. It wasn't up to forty-eight hours and yet another body?

"Did you meet him yesterday?" Oscar asked walking to stand in front of me.

I threw a glance at him, "Yes he came over to my house after I left the station in the evening. The gateman can be a witness."

"Captain, come check this out," One of them said walking out of one the rooms. Oscar glanced at him, nodded and then turned into the room. I followed.

My bedroom was uniquely decorated with car toys, toy bikes. A cross and a rosary hung of the wall, less of girly stuff and was neat.

The reason the police drew Oscar's attention was because my safe was found. Oscar drummed on the metal inbuilt box which was locked up.

"Open it." He ordered me impatiently.

I walked slowly and without much confidence. Carefully, I bent down, pressed 2-0-0-5 four-figure password. I peeked at Oscar standing behind me put his book away and pulled his gun out for caution. But what they got from the opening was an empty safe. I laughed, a short nervous one.

Oscar kept going, "Empty, huh?"

This random emptiness was certainly a problem for them. I was growing impatiently and irritated at the implicit looks from them that they didn't find anything illegal or something that could raise suspicion. I started getting tired and nauseous, not because of the presence of people. I grabbed my stomach and tried to swallow the contents that itched my throat trying to force itself out. Oscar had started pacing around my bedroom, his refined demeanor was able to persuade one to tell the truth.

With a few steps, I had my back resting against the wall supporting myself and broke the silence, "After I came back from the station, I came home and met Ekong in front of my house waiting for me. He didn't say anything much just– just asked why I wasn't home early. That's all."

Oscar raised his brow, his eyebrows furrowed in suspicion, as he eyed me, the suspect, as I sat rigid in my seat, hands trembling slightly.

"So, do you know if anyone visits your coach in his house?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism.

"I don't know," I insisted, my voice wavering as I grabbed my hands tightly in my lap. "I – I haven't seen him after that … not since our last discussion."

Oscar exchanged a brief glance with one of his partners, who stood by the door, jotting down notes in his notepad. The room, cold and sterile, did little to ease the tension.

"And your fingerprints on the body of the victim, care to explain that?" Oscar pressed on, leaning forward across the table.

I shook my head vigorously, "I don't know, probably since our last conversation.

"Oscar," another interjected, "We've not got a match on the fingerprints. From the neck, they are different."

Oscar's expression darkened as he stared down at me. I watched as his face fell, his eyes scanning the room one last time as if willing something to appear. But there was nothing. No evidence, no clues, no smoking gun. Just my living room.

I closed the front door behind the officers and forensics feeling a mix of relief and unease as I tried to process the events of the past hour. Nothing had been found to link me to Kiki's murder.

I pushed off the door and walked into the living room, my eyes scanning the space as if searching for something. I felt a sense of disorientation, like I was floating outside my body, watching myself move through the motions. I stopped in front of the window, staring out at the quiet street.

The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the neighborhood. It was a peaceful silence, one that belied the turmoil brewing inside me.

My mind raced with thoughts and emotions, my secrets and lies swirling together like a toxic storm. I felt trapped, like I was running out of options. With a sudden burst of energy, I turned away from the window and began to pace back and forth across the room.

As I paced, my eyes fell on a photo of Kiki and me, taken at a racing event a few years ago, we were smiling, arms around each other, our helmets tucked under our arms. My heart twisted with grief and guilt. I gently lifted the photo off the table and carried it to the bookshelf. I pushed aside a few books, creating a small gap, and slipped the photo behind them. It was a temporary hiding spot, but I needed to get it out of sight. I couldn't bear to look at it right now.